The Green Bay Packers have distributed 19 more Brown County grants through the Packers Give Back COVID-19 Community Relief Fund, a $1.5 million fund aimed at providing immediate support to Wisconsinites facing challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 19 new grants to Brown County groups are in addition to the 40 grants that were distributed with earlier rounds of funds the last several months, as well as the three grants that were distributed to the three local health systems to acquire personal protective equipment.

In total, since the fund was established, 62 grants have gone to 53 different Brown County groups that are on the front lines of helping those most impacted by the pandemic, including organizations addressing food and hygiene needs, housing assistance, transportation, medication and other basic needs. Recipients range from schools and food pantries to homeless shelters and organizations serving individuals with disabilities.

The latest rounds of grants are benefitting 19 groups, including:

• Ben's Wish: the grant will be used to purchase food and supplies for the Weekend Food Pack Alliance to support families and reduce food insecurity for local youth.
• Boys & Girls Club of Greater Green Bay: funds will provide scholarships for summer enrollment and purchase an online registration system to eliminate the need for physical contact during enrollment process.
• Brown County Oral Health Partnership: the grant will help purchase PPE, as well as safety and training materials and air quality testing for clinics to safely deliver dental care services to children in need.
• CASA of Brown County: the funds will help provide safety kits for volunteers.
• Cerebral Palsy, Inc.: the grant will help with PPE needs to assist with safe operations for the next six months.
• Curative Connections: the funding will help purchase PPE and technology to assist with services to older adults and members of the community dealing with memory loss.
• De Pere Unified School District: the grant will purchase nonperishable food for the weekend meal bag food distribution program and grocery store gift cards for families in need.
• Ecumenical Partnership for Housing: the funds will support technology upgrades to address clients' needs through transitional housing, long-term supportive housing and an eviction prevention program.
• First United Methodist Church: the grant will fund repairs to refrigeration equipment being used by The Good Will Place Food Pantry in its food distribution program.
• Foundations Health & Wholeness: the grant will support ongoing mental health counseling and video therapy.
• Green Bay Action Sports Organization: the grant will go toward supplies needed for safe facility reopening.
• Green Bay Area Public Schools: the funds will go toward purchasing PPE to prepare schools to open in fall.
• Innovative Services Inc.: the grant will purchase PPE and technology for telehealth work to provide youth services and mental health support to clients.
• Literacy Green Bay: the grant will assist with technology needed to provide virtual delivery of services.
• NeighborWorks Green Bay: the grant will support tenants struggling to pay rent because of COVID-19.
• New Community Shelter: the funds will help provide cleaning supplies for the emergency shelter.
• St. John the Evangelist Homeless Shelter: the grants will address the needs for motel vouchers, meals and unanticipated operational costs this summer.
• The Gathering Place: the grant will help purchase technology for weekly virtual support and educational groups.
• We All Rise: African American Resource Center: funds will support community members facing housing issues with essential basic needs items and transportation resources to ensure clients can maintain employment.

The other groups that received grants in the first months since the Fund was established include: Ashwaubenon School District, Calvary Lutheran Church, Casa ALBA Melanie, COMSA, Curative Connections, De Pere Christian Outreach, Encompass Early Education and Care, Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin, Freedom House Ministries, Friends of Pals Youth & Families, Golden House, Greater Green Bay YMCA, Green Bay Area Catholic Education, Green Bay First Food Pantry, Howard-Suamico School District Pantry, Jackie Nitschke Center, Inc., Jake's Diapers, NEWCAP; Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Educational Foundation, One Wrightstown, Options for Independent Living, Paul's Pantry Inc., Salvation Army Green Bay, School District of West De Pere, Stocked Shelf Food Pantry, Transformation House, Unity Hospice, Vivent Health, Volunteer Center of Brown County, Wise Women Gathering Place, YWCA of Greater Green Bay.

Some groups have received multiple grants to support their causes, including: Ashwaubenon School District, Curative Connections, De Pere Unified School District, Ecumenical Partnership for Housing, Green Bay Area Public Schools, New Community Shelter, St. John the Evangelist Homeless Shelter and We All Rise: African American Resource Center.

In addition to $1 million of support through the Fund earmarked for Brown County, the Packers Give Back COVID-19 Relief Fund also directed $500,000 to support initiatives in Milwaukee County. That portion of funding has already been distributed to a total of 31 Milwaukee County groups.

Packers Give Back continues to work closely with the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation to identify community needs and to quickly and efficiently distribute resources. Funding will continue to reach the community through the work of local nonprofits who serve the community's most vulnerable.

Grant applications for Brown County are still being accepted on a rolling basis as review teams continue to consider pending requests and assess short- and long-term needs. Organizations can learn how to apply at packers.com/community/.

Members of the community who want to help groups in the community can donate to the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation online at www.ggbcf.org or by mail: Greater Green Bay Community Foundation, 320 N. Broadway, Ste 260, Green Bay, WI 54303.